Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Moza La 01’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant variety characterized by a daisy type inflorescence with pink/white color ray florets, flexible plant habit, vigorous growth habit, and consistent natural season flowering habit during late September.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Variety denomination: ‘Moza La 01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, herein after referred to by the cultivar name ‘Moza La 01.’

This new cultivar originated from hybridization of a female parent Chrysanthemum cultivar MZ 215-01 (unpatented in the United States, and undistributed commercially) with a male parent Chrysanthemum cultivar MZ 257-01 (unpatented in the United States, and undistributed commercially). The new cultivar was discovered by the inventor in November 1998.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by apical tip cutting and meristem tissue culture was performed in Oxnard, Calif. and has shown that the unique features of this new cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Moza La 01’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Moza La 01.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Moza La 01’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum:

1. Daisy type inflorescence with pink/white color ray florets;

2. Flexible plant habit;

3. Vigorous growth habit; and

4. Consistent natural season flowering habit during late September.

Plants of the new cultivar are similar to plants of the female parent cultivar in most horticultural characteristics, however plants of the new cultivar differed from plants of the female parent cultivar in the following characteristics:

1. The new cultivar has different color ray florets;

2. The new cultivar is taller; and

3. The new cultivar has a more flexible plant shape.

Plants of the new cultivar are similar to plants of the male parent cultivar in most horticultural characteristics, however plants of the new cultivar differed from plants of the male parent cultivar in the following characteristics:

1. The new cultivar has different color ray florets;

2. The new cultivar is taller; and

3. The new cultivar naturally blooms 2 weeks later.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

FIG. 1 shows a close up view of the flowers and buds of the new cultivar.

FIG. 2 shows the foliage of the new cultivar.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe plants grown in a commercial filed on Oxnard, Calif. in the month of September 2000. The plant described is approximately 85 days old, and was grown from a rooted cutting given one pinch after 10 days from planting. There was no spray or disbud treatment given. The growing conditions range from 60° to 65° F. at night to 70° to 85° during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical flowering types.

Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium cultivar ‘Moza La 01’.

Commercial classification: Garden-type Chrysanthemum.

Parentage: Hybridization of female parent Chrysanthemum cultivar (unpatented in the United States) with a male parent Chrysanthemum cultivar (unpatented in the United States).

Commercial comparison: Comparison variety “Roadrunner” U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,298, the most similar multi-color ray floret variety. The new variety differs from Roadrunner in having a later natural season bloom time, many more inflorescence per flowering stem, smaller diameter inflorescence, pink/white ray florets as opposed to red/yellow ray florets, and more disc florets than Roadrunner.

PROPAGATION

Time to rooting: 7 to 14 days at approximately 21° C.

Rooting habit: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

Growth habit: Mounding herbaceous perennial.

Height: Approximately 29 cm.

Branching characteristics: Free branching.

Internode length: Approximately 2.9 cm.

Length of lateral branches: Approximately 21 cm.

Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 22.

Stem color: Near 138A.

FOLIAGE

Leaf:

Arrangement.—Alternate single.

Average length.—Approximately 7.8 cm.

Average width.—Approximately 4.7 cm.

Shape of blade.—Ovate.

Apex.—Acuminate.

Base.—Attenuate.

Attachment.—Stalked.

Margin.—Serrate.

Texture of top surface.—Lightly pubescent.

Texture of bottom surface.—Lightly pubescent.

Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near 138A. Young foliage under side: Near 138B. Mature foliage upper side: Near 137A. Mature foliage under side: Near 137B. Venation upper side: Near 138C. Venation under side: Near 137C.

Petiole:

Average length.—Approximately 2.9 cm.

Petiole color.—Approximately 137C.

BLOOM

Inflorescence:

Flowering habit.—Induced by darkness period greater than 13.5 hours, blooming consistently after 49 days of appropriate day length required to induce and develop blooms.

Inflorescence form.—Daisy.

Natural flowering season.—Approximately the last two weeks in September.

Number of inflorescences per stem.—Approximately 14.

Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 4.5 cm.

Inflorescence depth.—Approximately 1.5 cm.

Inflorescence longevity on plant.—Approximately 20-24 days.

Persistence.—Persistent.

Fragrance.—Not Present.

Ray florets:

Appearance.—Matte.

Texture.—Smooth.

Average number per flower.—Approximately 150.

Shape.—Oblanceolate.

Margin.—Entire.

Apex.—Acute.

Length.—Approximately 2.0 cm.

Width.—Approximately 0.8 cm.

Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near 59D. Upper surface at maturity: Near 70D at the tip; Near 155D at the base. Upper surface at fading: Near 62D at the tip; Near 155D at the base. Under surface at first opening: Near 54A. Under surface at maturity: Near 52D at the tip; Near 155D at the base. Under surface at fading: Near 54D at the tip; Near 155D at the base.

Disc florets:

Appearance.—Shiny.

Texture.—Smooth.

Average number per flower.—Approximately 200.

Shape.—Cylindric.

Apex.—Obtuse.

Average length.—Approximately 0.8 cm.

Average width.—Approximately 0.3 cm.

Color.—At first opening: Near 15A. At maturity: Near 15B. At fading: Near 17A.

Peduncle:

Length.—At terminal end (shortest): Approximately 5 cm. At lateral end (longest): Approximately 9 cm.

Strength.—Moderate.

Color.—Near 138B.

Habit.—Erect.

Inflorescence bud:

Length.—Approximately 1 cm.

Diameter.—Approximately 1 cm.

Form.—Globular.

Color.—Near 54A.

Sepals:

Appearance.—Matte.

Texture.—Lightly pubescent.

Number.—Approximately 20 to 30.

Shape.—Ovate.

Margin.—Entire.

Apex.—Acute.

Color.—Upper side: Near 138A. Under side: Near 138A.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Ray florets:

Number of pistils perfloret.—1.

Stigma shape.—2 branched.

Stigma color.—Near 16D.

Style color.—Near 16D.

Style length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.

Number of stamens per floret.—Absent.

Disc florets:

Number of pistils per floret.—1.

Stigma shape.—Cylindric.

Style length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.

Stigma color.—Near 2A.

Style color.—Near 154D.

Number of stamens per floret.—Approximately 5.

Anther shape.—Tubular.

Anther color.—Near 16A.

Pollen color.—Near 17B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

Seed production: Commercially, this plant is not used or observed in a stage wherein seeds would be produced. Therefore, seed production has not been observed.

Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to diseases and pests have been observed in this cultivar. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Moza La 01’ as herein illustrated and described. 